BBC journalists will educate young people about fake news

07 December 2017

The BBC is launching a new programme supporting secondary school pupils to identify real news and filter out fake or false information.

From March 2018, up to 1,000 schools will be offered mentoring in class, online, or at events from BBC journalists. The initiative will be delivered by the BBC’s media literacy project School Report – a collaboration between BBC Academy and BBC News.

Free resources for UK schools

All UK schools will have access to free online materials looking at fake news, these include: classroom activities; video tutorials; and an interactive game (developed by Aardman studio) where the player experiences being a BBC journalist in the heart of the newsroom.

A ‘Reality Check Roadshow’ will tour the country and local schools will be able to nominate their own ‘Reality Checker’ pupils to attend one of a dozen regional events. Some will be invited to present their own Reality Check reports on BBC School Report News Day in March 2018.